A New Mommy

It has been 8 weeks since I delivered our precious baby girl.  The time does sure fly by.  It seems longer than 8 weeks because I have carried her for much longer.  I wanted to share with you all what I have learned thus far in being a new mommy.  There will probably be many more lessons to learn as Cora grows older.  The list below is by no means in any particular order.

 

1.  Delivery HURTS! -- To all the women who gave birth with no pain medicine...I give you a big standing ovation.  When thinking back to the pain I remember why women have labor pains.  Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.  They both chose to eat the forbidden fruit and as a punishment for Eve....labor pains.  But what a gracious and might God we serve that while we still sin, He forgives us.  (I am still waiting for the day that I don't remember the pain.  I will say this, it was well worth every once of pain I had...epidural and all.)

 

2. Explosive Diapers Exist -- Now, I never doubted that they did.  I have heard some gross stories from parents about poo being up to the babies armpits.  I have yet to figure out how such a cute and sweet baby can make some of the nastiest, stinkiest diapers.  I'm not complaining, I feel blessed to be able to change my daughter's diapers, poopy ones and all.

 

3. It takes a Village -- Where or where would I be without the help of my husband, parents, sister, in-laws, and great grandmother?  Post-partum hit me the first night in the hospital when it was just my husband and I in the room.  (I sent Cora to the nursery at night to get some rest.)  The reality of having a newborn rely on you was overwhelming.  I prayed, and still do, that God will guide me decisions, emotions, and behaviors to be the best mother I can be. 

 

4. Sleep When You Can -- The advice many seasoned parents give to the new parents...sleep when the baby sleeps.  I would encourage this as well.  It doesn't take much to hold your precious baby and rock them to sleep as well as yourself.  There are many times that I would shut my eyes, hoping that Cora would follow my lead (instead, she would just stare up at me wide-eyed). 

 

5. Picture It -- While my baby is just two months old, her appearance changes on a daily basis.  I have so many photos of her already.  Take a picture, post it on Facebook (like everyone else who is proud of their baby), print it out, save it, or frame it.  But document the memories in pictures.

 

6. Pray for Them -- I think one of the greatest thing a parent can do for their child is pray for them.  Jason and I recently had Cora's baby dedication at church and we declared, in front of our church family, that we would be Christian parents.  This means that we must show Christ's love to our daughter, teach her about God and His sacrifice, take her to church, and love her unconditionally. 

 

Parenting has changed my life in two short months.  I know that I have a lot to learn.  I know that at some point in my daughter's teenage years my IQ will drop drastically and suddenly increase when she's around 18-20 years old.  I know though, that I must follow God's will for my life and for my daughters.  This means that I must walk close to Him. 

 

Dear God, I want to thank you for blessing me with a daughter.  I pray that you help guide me and show me the way to being a Christian mother to her.  Lead me.  I pray for all the first time parents and seasoned parents, that they will follow you as well.  In Christ Name I pray, AMEN.

Family Relationships In Christ (Part 3)

My apologies to those who have been waiting to read the last part of the three part series.  God has been working in my life and pruning away various aspects.   Not only that, but we have a new addition to our family--sweet baby Cora.  (I'll blog more about being a new mother and what God has taught me, as well as other lessons I've learned since the last post.)  But for now, back to about Family Relationships In Christ. 

 

The last of the three part blogs is about what children are called to do according to our Heavenly Father.  In the previous Family Relationships In Christ blogs I shared many different components that men and women are called to do.  Well, for children, there is just one thing.  The task is not simple nor easy to come by for some children.  We are, as children, called to obey. 

 

WOW!  Obey.  I can remember my mother wearing a t-shirt when my sister and I were younger that said, "Mother's of teenagers know why animals eat their young."  I will admit, I am a sinner.  I do not want to down play that by any means.  Romans 2:23 states, "For everyone has sinned; we fall short of God's glorious standard." Obeying my parents when I was younger and even today is challenging.  I have wanted to be independent...but often times I would simply be stubborn. 

 

Ephesians 6:2-3 tells us, "Honor your father and mother.  This is the first commandment with a promise.  If you honor your father and mother, things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth."  Having worked in a social work field, I know that not everyone comes from cookie-cutter backgrounds.  But I do know that while Jesus was on earth, He did not have a cookie-cutter stay.  Jesus endured many trials and temptations for us.  Jesus stayed close to God and sought after His will...thus succeeding in paying the ultimate price for our sins. 

 

My prayer, as a new mother, is that my daughter will walk closely with the Lord.  For when we do not walk closely with the Lord, we often stumble and fall down (not obeying our parents, lust, envy, etc.).  I'm not saying that walking closely with the Lord is easy, but the benefits outweigh the cost.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me.  I pray that as I continue to grow in You, that I may demonstrate this with my actions.  I pray that my actions towards my parents are honorable to You and to them.   Please forgive me when I stumble and fall.  Help me to raise up and walk strong in You when I do fall.  In Jesus' Name, AMEN.